Raven was originally performed as a segment of improv at the beginning of a Dave solo version of Typical Situation in Cincinnati on 8.20.95. This particular version of Raven was bracketed by early improv fragments of Little Thing before segueing into Typical.

After this one show, the song was shelved for over four years until it was built up in the Spring 2000 studio sessions leading to its full song debut on 6.20.00 in Columbus. 2000 versions were usually lyrically based around the idea of waste, often times wasted youth and innocence. Like the rest of the Spring 2000 songs, it was left off of the band's next release, Everyday, and unlike Grey Street, Grace Is Gone, Bartender, etc. it did not return to sets the following tour.

In 2002 it made its return to live sets on the opening night of the Spring 2002 tour and a lyrically retooled and glossy version appeared on the band's next album, Busted Stuff. After 2002 the song wasn't played again until opening night of the 2006 Summer Tour at Maryland Heights. Played mostly throughout the early part of that tour then abandoned again, it would not return again until the opening night of the 2009 tour. This time it was played without the opening riff and started directly at the first verse with only Dave and Tim playing until the band joins in half-way through the verse.